How Refurbished Pallets are Beneficial for the Environment

Wooden pallets have been a fundamental element of the supply chain for decades. For the transport and storage of goods of every kind, they have been essential since they were invented in 1925 under the name ‘lift truck platform’. Although plastic pallets are widely available, they are about three times the price, and wooden pallets still account for 90% of the global market. However, businesses are not limited to these two choices, since it is now very common to find refurbished pallets for sale in large numbers across the UK.

The Environmental Disadvantages of Wooden Pallets

In the long term, wood is a sustainable material, if used responsibly in conjunction with sensible forestry policies. In the shorter term, the intensive use of new wood removes carbon-sequestering trees from the environment. At the same time, there is a widespread acceptance in industry of the disposability of wooden pallets, which frequently end up in landfill.

Some 450 million wooden pallets are manufactured every year and it’s estimated that 2 billion are in service at any one time [1]. If nearly 25% of the global total is renewed every year, the extent of wastage is phenomenal. Even if you choose to source your pallets from a responsible company which at the very least plants a tree for every one they cut down, this won’t address the serious problem of pallets being discarded at the end of what is considered to be their useful life.

Refurbishment is the Answer

It doesn’t have to be this way. In fact, in the USA, wooden pallets have been designated eco-friendly and awarded an Environmental Product Declaration. Not only are sustainability strategies for the raw material both feasible and achievable but there are a number of ways in which the lifetime of existing pallets can be extended both in commerce and beyond.

Wooden pallets are easily repairable, whereas metal and plastic ones are not. Stringers can be repaired, deckboards and blocks replaced, even damaged struts can be exchanged for sound ones. Instead of treating pallets like disposable coffee cups, we should consider them as valuable assets which can be repaired and maintained. We wouldn’t dream of throwing out watches, cars or bicycles at the first sign of wear and tear. With a change of attitude and a little discipline, you can make a significant difference to your environmental impact.

We’re not suggesting you undertake this process yourself, although the most minor repairs might be possible on site. What you should do is find a reputable company which specialises in pallet refurbishment. Send them your damaged pallets and they will have the knowledge and skills to return them to good working order while crucially ensuring they are 100% safe for the purpose.

There are cost benefits too. If you find a supplier offering refurbished pallets for sale, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that not only are these pallets capable of bearing the same weight as new ones, both strong and safe, but they can also be up to 40% cheaper.

The longer wooden pallets are kept in the supply chain, the more valuable their carbon net-negative effect. Unrestrained logging is a wasteful way of using wood, but the longer the life of a pallet, the higher its contribution to lowering carbon emissions. Even the recycling of other materials used in their production such as nails can help.

One frequently overlooked benefit concerns the safety of employees. Many businesses may be tempted to continue using pallets once their reliability has started to decline, either to save money or in an effort not to add to landfill. With pallet refurbishment now being so widespread, there is no need to keep working with inadequate pallets. As soon as there is any sign of damage, a pallet can be immediately set aside for repair and recycling.

After Refurbishment

There comes a time when a pallet is beyond repair but that’s not the end of the road. Pallets are routinely upcycled for use as garden furniture or in landscape gardening. Eventually, they’re turned into biomass and used to generate energy.

Refurbished Pallets for Sale

So, if your business uses pallets either to transport or receive goods, remember they’re not just an item of packaging to be got rid of. Look for a business advertising the sale of refurbished pallets and let them do their magic.